African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO)

Unsung heroes of waste management! 🗑️ For years, reclaimers have been the forgotten heroes of South Africa's recycling system, tirelessly working behind the scenes without acknowledgment or compensation! Read more: https://lnkd.in/d7syAbiw #JusticeForReclaimers #UnseenLabour #ModernDaySlavery

In 2021, South Africa signed the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) agreement, a policy aimed at holding producers accountable for the lifecycle of their pr… https://lnkd.in/d-pZMhpY #JusticeForReclaimers #ModernDaySlavery #UnseenLabour

ARO calls on PROs and government to honour their legal obligation to waste pickers. Read More: https://lnkd.in/dcWJBCUV #JusticeForReclaimers #ModernDaySlavery #UnseenLabour

Catch the repeat tonight at 20:30 PM @eTVonline: Waste pickers are an essential service, yet they earn shockingly little. The packaging industry is supposed to pay them a fee—so why isn’t the money going to those who are saving our environment? Click the following link to view the Devi Show “Wastepickers Treated Like Dirt” episode on eTV and eNCA: https://lnkd.in/eqhuew8V #JusticeForReclaimers #ModernDaySlavery #UnseenLabour

ARO calls on PROs and government to honour their legal obligation to waste pickers. Read More: https://lnkd.in/dR8uEqii SA Profile Magazine #JusticeForReclaimers  #ModernDaySlavery #UnseenLabour

Reclaimers—South Africa's unsung recycling heroes—demand justice! Despite the 2021 EPR regulations, Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) are failing to pay reclaimers, as exposed on the Devi Show on eTV and eNCA. We say NO to exploitation and demand immediate payment for reclaimers who keep the recycling industry alive. It's time for government enforcement and PRO accountability. Join us in demanding fair treatment for reclaimers. Click the following link to view the Devi Show “Wastepickers Treated Like Dirt” episode on eTV and eNCA: https://lnkd.in/eqhuew8V #JusticeForReclaimers #ModernDaySlavery #UnseenLabour

In more than 60% of countries globally, informal waste workers play a vital role in waste management efforts. Their work in collecting recyclable materials surpass those of formalised systems, yet they often operate under challenging conditions.  Recognising these workers’ contributions and enhancing support for them are crucial for improving waste management. Together with Roland Berger, we explore how policies to support, integrate, and fund waste pickers’ contributions and activities can drive collection, and by extension plastic recycling rates. Download the Plastic Waste Management Framework white paper now to learn more: https://bit.ly/470P22N #EndPlasticWaste #CircularEconomy #recycling #informalwaste #plasticwaste

The African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO) is a membership-based group of reclaimers operating in residential areas and landfills. Their activities involve collecting, transporting, sorting, and selling recyclables, including various materials like PET bottles, plastic containers, electronic waste, and paper. ARO has significantly contributed to the recycling economy, creating a cleaner environment and improving the livelihoods of its members. Reclaimers play a crucial role in diverting materials from landfills, saving municipalities an estimated R780 million in associated costs. ARO collaborates with stakeholders such as academia (Wits University), the private sector (Cola Cola Beverage South Africa, Unilever), and civil society (Alliance to End Plastic Waste) to provide reclaimers access to markets and develop sustainable waste integration solutions. 🔄🌱 #ARO #Reclaimingthefuture

Reclaimers, recognizing the value in discarded materials, started separating recyclables from residents' trash long before municipal interest in recycling. This proactive approach allowed them to earn income by extracting valuable items from the waste stream. Municipalities now encourage residents to practice Separation at Source (SaS), where recyclables are separated before collection. In contrast, reclaimers engage in Separation outside Source (SoS), extracting recyclables after residents dispose of their trash. The image above illustrates this process, depicting reclaimers extracting recyclables from residential waste at two key locations: home rubbish bins and landfills. Reclaimers contribute to the official waste management system by selling recyclables to buy-back centers, integrating into the global recycling value chain. 🔄♻️ #Recycling #reclaimingthefuture Source:Figure 1: Separation outside Source (SoS) [Source Samson, Seegers and van den Bussche, 2019]

Montoa Khoali who works for the African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO) was a waste reclaimer for several years in and around Brixton before taking on her new role within the organisation. “These days I travel around the city meeting reclaimers to check their slips from weigh-ins to calculate how much has been collected.” Both positions require the dedication of a full-time job in a bid to feed and look after her family. Photo: Emily Wellman Bain Read full article here: https://lnkd.in/dBsMYK33